The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-20
rrSsInN LEGISLATION.


gross commencing at the date fixed in the
act or upon its passage may apply to the
Commissioner of Pensions for increase or ar
rears Of pension it shall be granted il, upon
examination of proof submitted TO the Pension
Office, il shall appear that the disability or in
jury for which the pension was granted was
incurred while in the line of duty.
Mr.. Matson (Ind.) introduced bill (H. r.
l0l57) for the relief of dependent parents and
Observation-Disclosures soldiers and sailors who
are now disabled and dependent upon their
own labor for support; which was referred 10
the Committee on Invalid Pensions.
ARREARS IN CERTAIN CASES.
The following is the text of the bill recently
introduced by Senator Sherman (Ohio) Ito
grant arrears of pensions in certain cases.:
BE IL enacted, &C. That from and after the passage
OF this act ali persons the pension rolls OF the
United States who drawing pensions on account
OF loss of limb mhs shall be entitled to receive
Of pensions from date Of discharge or disd
bihty, and covering sll the time up TO the passage
act or acts authorizing the issuance last
pension-oertdcnie at the same rate per month 10
which that certificate entities them.
EXTRA PAY TO OFFICERS.
Senator Plumb (Kan.l introduced the follow
ing bin " Allowing extra pay to certain officers
of the volunteer army in tho war of the re-
bellion":
BE IL enacted etc. That all officers OF the volunteer
army in the war OF the rebellion who served the
full term OF enlistment and were honorably dis
charged shall be entitled To receive extra pay as
follows. namely: Where the enlistment was for the
term OF one year, one months pay proper; where
the enlistment was for the term Of two years, two
months pay proper where the enlistment was Tor
the term of three years, three months pay proper:
TfOridod, That they have not already received the
benefits OF the act approved March third eighteen
hundred and sixty-iive. and the amendatory act
approved July thirteenth, eighteen hundred and
sixty-six.
RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS.
Senator Henderson CNeb) introduced bin
which provides that any officer borne on the
activelist Of the army, who served IN the war
of the rebellion at least three years as an officer
or enlisted man ofthe VOLUNTEERED or Regular Army
of the United States shall, upon his own APP
plication TO the President of the United States,
after % years service including that as an
officer or enlisted man in the volunteer or
Regular Army OF the United States, be placed
on the retired list of the army, in addition to
the number heretofore authorized by law, the
retired list being hereby extended 10 conform
10 the requirements Of this act.
GOING FOR THE SURPLUS.
Mr.. Warner, Of Ohio, introduced in the House
bill to relieve the Treasury ofthe accumulated
surplus. There are two sums of Sl0o,OO0oO0
each, in round numbers, one for the redemption
of bank notes and the other TO secure the green
! back circulation. The bill authorizes the Sec
/. rotary of the Treasury to purchase Government
bonds at market value with these funds, giving
| him the right 10 sell the bonds again, should
an emergency arise. 1t gives him the discre-
ton also to cease the purchase of tho bonds,
should the premium reach a point that would
reduce the interest below two per cent.
PoLYGAMY.
The anti-polygamy bill, presented by the
House Judiciary Committee as a substitute for
the Edmunds bill, passed the House without a
1 division. The bill makes the lawful husband
and wife or any person prosecuted for bigamy,
/ polygamy, or unlawful cohabitation a COM
! petent witness against the accused, and further
provides for the registration of all marriages,
making a misdemeanor for any person To vio-
late the provisions relative TO such registration.
! Ii annuls all Territorial laws providing for the
Identification OF the votes Of electors at any
election, and also all laws comforting ON the
Territorial cOurts the power 10 determine di-
! Yorce cases, and abolishes woman suffrage in
the Territory of Utah. Penalties are prescribed
for unlawful intercourse, and polygamy is de-
fined as a marriage between one person of one
sex and more than one person OF another sex,
and is declared to be felony. The financial
corporations known as the Church of Latter
Day Saints and the Perpetual Emigration Fund
Company are dissolved, aud the Attorney Gen
eral is directed to wind them mp by process oil
court; and all laws for the organization of the
militia of the Territory and the creation Of the
Nanyo Legion are aunulled. Polygamist5 are
made ineligible to vote, and a test oath is pre-
scrbed 10 all persons desiring to vote that they
will obey the laws of the United States, and
especially the laws in respect to the crimes
defined in this and tho original Edmunds act
The bill provides for the immediate appoint
ment by the President of all Judges and Select
men Of the County and Probate Courts, and by
the Governor of all Justices of the Peace
Sherifs. Constables, and other County and Dis
trict officers The Senate will probably agree
to the House substitute. Mr.. Game, the Nor
man Delegate from Utah, made bitter speech
against the bill, denouncing it as tyrannica
and unjust
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
The Senate spent nearly the whole week II
debating the interstate commerce bill, anC
passed il by ayes 43, noes ID. The bill passed
provides for the appointment Of a commission
of five competent men, not more than three o
whom shall belong 10 one political party. Ship
pers who have grievances against railroads cal
| make complaint 10 the commission or institute
suit in the Federal courts. Railroads are pro
hibited from charging more for short than 70
longer distance upon their own lines in tn
same direction, the shorter being included with
in the longer distance. and the circumstance
and conditions being the same; but the com
mission is authorized, upon application of
railroad, and after Investigation Of the facts, 3
relieve the roads from the operation of tn
general rule in special cases. Pooling is abso
lutely prohibited. On the question Of public
y ity Of rates the provisions OF the two bills hay
been merged so as 10 require each railroad {
! make public the rates between points upon ii
own road, as proposed in the House bill, and /
addition the commission is required To secur
/ publicity Of through rates in SO Ear as it may
= found necessary.
ARMY APPROPRIATION BIII
: The army appropriation bill, as reported I
: the Senate by Senator Allison, appropriate
a $23 737,7lS, being $95, 100 in excess of the al
a preparation made by the bill as il came from th
!; House, and 81, 756, 500 less than the estimate
q An increase from 100000 10 $780, 600 in the al
4 ! preparation for manufacture Of arms is the onl
$ important monetary change in the bill as
: came from the House.
; PRIVATE BILLS.
= The following original House bills wei
i passed by the House and sent TO the Senate
It Grant i. q. Lathermon, Co. i, SD Ind, 81:
J. Mary Jane, widow Of Nathan Mago0n, Co.
y 7th n. H.; Andrew j. Vanorder, 2Sth Ill
i. Thomas ID. q. Policy, Co. ID, 10th H.. Mabae
u dependent mother of John w. Brown, 32d Ky
Re AlonzO, father of Plat q. Raymond, Co. L, 81
q Wis; Mary Mccoy, nurse and laundress, 81:
Il Ellen NJ, sister OF Maj. Edward L. Sturdevan
n 9Th n. H.; Larkin Deeple, Co. T. 7th Ky
Ie Anna, widow Of Nicholas Schier, Co. G, ll2t
al Pa. Green Fields, Co. L, 18th Ind. Cav. Sophi
&c widow, and two minor children of Louis
4 Spran, Co. ID, l4th Wis; Susan L. Barry, nurs
= $l2
- Tha foIlowipg hills beretofore nasSad h, IL